Effect of Zinc Management Techniques and Varietal Response on Agronomic Performance and Nutritional Quality of Paddy

Abstract

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple crop vital for India’s food security. However, intensive cultivation practices such as reliance on high-yielding varieties, reduced organic manure use, and excessive chemical fertilizer application—have led to widespread zinc (Zn) deficiency in Indian soils. Zinc is an essential micronutrient that supports photosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and protein synthesis, and its supplementation enhances both yield and grain nutritional quality. A field experiment was conducted during Kharif 2020 at RARS, Nandyal (ANGRAU), to evaluate the effect of zinc application methods on rice performance and grain zinc enrichment. Among 4 varieties, NDLR-8 recorded the longest panicle length (24.17 cm) and highest grain (6698 kg ha⁻¹) and straw (7089 kg ha⁻¹) yields, followed by NDLR-7, while BPT-5204 performed lowest. Post-harvest soil analysis showed that NDLR-8 maintained the highest residual N (200 kg ha⁻¹), P (52.12 kg ha⁻¹), Fe (44.04 mg kg⁻¹), and Zn (8.12 mg kg⁻¹). Among treatments, Zn₂ (100 kg ha⁻¹ soil application) significantly enhanced soil Zn (8.84 mg kg⁻¹) and Fe (51.17 mg kg⁻¹) compared with other methods. The results highlight the importance of optimized zinc management and varietal selection in improving rice yield and grain micronutrient content.